Question

Sarah wrote the following steps to simplify the expression (8x – 6y – 5x).

Step 1: 8x – 5x – 6y; using commutative property of addition
Step 2: (8x – 5x) – 6y; using associative property of addition
Step 3: x(8 – 5 – 6); using distributive property of addition
Step 4: x(-3); simplifying

Which step was incorrect, and what should be the correct step that Sarah should use?

Answer 1

Step 2 was incorrect. Correct step: 8x – (5y − 6y); using associative property of addition

Step 3 was incorrect. Correct step: 8x – (5 + 6) y; using distributive property of addition

Step 3 was incorrect. Correct step: x(8 – 5) – 6y; using distributive property of addition

Step 2 was incorrect. Correct step: 8x – (5x + 6y); using associative property of addition

Answer 2

hi @noemio13

Answer 3

to answer your question, whenever you see x, replace it with "apples" and whenever you see y, replace it with "triceratops"

so your original equation:
8x – 6y – 5x
= you find 8 apples, you lose 6 triceratops and you also lose 5 apples
so at the end of the day what have you found/ lost overall?

Answer 4

once you have that answer, compare it to the above steps in your multi-choice, and see which one doesnt fit/ is incorrect